How Do I Know Therapy is Helping?

[cypher]

i'm not sure where to post this but heres my thing. i have multiple questions. if theres any advice out there its appreciated.

i just started seeing a pshycologist the past few weeks (been there twice) and am scheduled to see her again monday. my question is how/when do i know if going there will help/is helping? is there something i should be looking for in terms of communication with her? it's difficult to talk about whats been going on so i am somewhat quiet. i found her by going to my insurances website and they give a list of people who accept it. i'll probally think of more things after posting this- my thoughts are broken right now. sorry.

but any kind of advice/things to look for etc... would be great. thanks.

 

[Seeking_Nirvana]

Hi Cypher,
I think the benefits of therapy will reveal itself when you can leave the office and feel better than when you first went in.

I don't know how long that will take because we are all individuals with different issues. But if I was you I wouldn't give up too soon. Give it at least a couple of months.

Tammy

 

[anthony]

With PTSD, you should walk away from therapy feeling like shit. The therapist should have pushed you in some direction to deal with some sort of fear, regardless the size or scope, they should be pushing you in the directions they believe you must go in order to first face your fears surrounding your trauma. Obviously the beginning session may be slow as it is usually introductory BS to get through, the second session onwards should be into the guts of things. If you walk away feeling warm and fuzzy then that is not the therapist for you, not with PTSD anyway.

 

[Cindy]

I don't feel as strongly as Anthony but I do feel you need to squirm a little in each session. But, my personal marker of progress is if I walk away with a new thought, perspective, or a homework assignment of recognizing a behavior or symptom and its trigger. If I can leave with one or two new revelations about the mental processes that are keeping me stuck the sooner I will be out of the quicksand. Once in a while I do leave feeling like I didn't accomplish anything, but honestly it is usually due to me limiting myself by not engaging with my therapist.

 

[cypher]

Thanks for the replies. Last week I too felt as if nothing was accomplished, but was given an assignment. I hope it leads to better understanding.

Does anyone write things down and give it to your therapist to read? I am very quiet and have a hard time getting things out/telling someone my thoughts or feelings. I think this is limiting to progress.

 

[Deleted member 541]

Cypher,

I too think that you should feel awful coming out of therapy. I did for a long time, I would leave his office in tears, and full of anxiety. If writing things down and giving them to you T helps, then do it, as long as you actively talk about them in your session.

 

[Claire]

Yes, leaving in tears is quite common for me too. I agree it needs to be tough but not so tough you give up on it. It also takes time to feel comfortable to talk to the therapist, to build up trust.

I email my therapist things I find had to tell him or things I forget. I dont think there is a right and a wrong way to explain things. Its whatever works for you. We dont always talk about what I've emailed him. It sometimes helps relieve the pressure on me if I've told him something in email though otherwise I get annoyed that I didn't spit it out again.

 

[WorkingThruIt]

I took about 4 sessions before I started feeling like shit, and then it took several hours to really hit. Now, I shake uncontrollably for the couple of hours surrounding the therapy.

If we have a light day, I can avoid the not being functional for a day or so. I control the pace and can communicate less if I am not feeling up to a full session. I feel like I am wasting her time and my money on these visits, but it is better than quittng.

Are you talking about your trauma? I think that would have a huge impact on how you feel post-therapy.

 

[linasmom]

Hi Cypher,

I just recently relocated to another state and had to find a new therapist. The first therapist I found was way too passive for me. It felt like I was sitting in a guidance councilors office as opposed to a psychologist's office. I left there feeling flat.

I decided to find a new therapist. On my first visit, he spent 2 hours with me and I left there feeling like my head was going to explode, literally. My head physically hurt from all of the prodding. I can't wait to see him again on Monday. To me, that is a good therapist.

Does your therapist specialize in Trauma?

Best,
Rachel

 

[kers]

With PTSD, you should walk away from therapy feeling like shit.

I actually disagree with this. I almost always walk away from my counseling sessions feeling better, safer, less helpless, less weak. My counselor is nudging me to face things, but at a very slow and comfortable pace for me. I'm bringing up the stuff, not him. When he pushes, I just shut down and nothing gets accomplished.

I'm not saying it's easy or a walk in the park at all, it's a challenge sometimes, but I think the belief that it should be harsh and overwhelming is misleading. That's just my opinion.

 

[grace5555]

Kers - I agree with you as well...I would not be strong enough to face the tough things we deal with if I left feeling worse then I started. Harsh and overwhelming therapy may be necessary for some although I don't really believe that, but I know it is not for me. Things aren't perfect when I leave and there is a hell of a lot of pain, but I am know I am supported in the midst of my pain and will work through it.

 

[nic]

I hear what you all are saying, and while it makes sense, I don't think the difficult therapy sessions are the best for everyone. If I have a tough session, I CANNOT function for a day or so, sometimes more. This isn't so good when you have to wake up at 5 am for work the next day and have a ton on your plate. I also tend to become very dependent on meds during this time; if I don't take a bunch, there's a good chance I'm going to end up in the ER from extreme panic that includes breaking out into huge hives that can only be cured with even more meds. (Which then, in turn, creates more stomach issues, and my body and mind tend to go downhill.) Well, that's just me. Perhaps it hasn't been as bad for you all.

nic